Nitrogen and Azotobacter's Impact on Soil characteristics and Nutrient availability

Author: Gajraj Yadav, Neeraj Kumar, Kumar Anshuman, Ankit Singh, Sandeep Yadav, Pankaj Singh and Ram Ratan Singh

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Abstract

An experiment conducted during the Rabi season of 2016-17 at the Instructional Farm of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, located in Narendra Nagar, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.), aimed to assess the impact of various nutrient management practices on soil properties and nutrient availability. The experiment featured ten different treatments, including a control (T1: N-0, P-60, K-40 kg/ha-1 ) and variations involving Azotobacter inoculation, varying levels of nitrogen (N) application, and combinations thereof. These treatments were replicated in a randomized block design (RBD) with triplicate plots, and wheat variety PBW-343 was chosen as the test crop. The findings indicated significant changes in soil parameters. Notably, there was a decrease in soil pH (8.13), electrical conductivity (0.29), and bulk density (1.39) across various treatments. The highest improvements in nutrient availability, including nitrogen (178 kg ha-1 ), phosphorus (20.5 kg ha-1 ), and potassium (267.6 kg ha-1 ), were observed in treatments applying chemical fertilizers at a rate of 100 kg of nitrogen per hectare combined with Azotobacter (T10). This was closely followed by treatment T9, which involved the application of 120 kg of nitrogen per hectare. These results highlight the potential benefits of integrating Azotobacter with chemical fertilizers to enhance soil properties and nutrient availability in wheat cultivation. The study's significant contributions lie in its findings that emphasize the potential benefits of integrating Azotobacter with chemical fertilizers to improve soil properties and nutrient availability. This information can guide agricultural practices, helping farmers optimize their nutrient management strategies to enhance crop yields and promote sustainable agriculture in the Rabi season.

Keywords

Azotobacter, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Soil pH, Bulk density.

Conclusion

From the above it may be concluded that, the application of 100 kg ha-1 + nitrogen in combination with Azotobacter has shown significant positive effects on soil physicochemical properties and nutrient availability. This synergistic approach has improved soil fertility, enhanced nutrient retention, and holds promise for sustainable agricultural practices, contributing to increased crop productivity.

References

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How to cite this article

Gajraj Yadav, Neeraj Kumar, Kumar Anshuman, Ankit Singh, Sandeep Yadav, Pankaj Singh and Ram Ratan Singh (2023). Nitrogen and Azotobacter's Impact on Soil characteristics and Nutrient availability. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(10): 103-107.